This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
Tomorrow's seminar will be the presentation of a short video, The Double Helix, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. A discussion session will follow.
I really liked this video learning about the double helix and how it came to be discovered. It tells a great story of James Watson and Francis Crick, and I love that they had an interview with James Watson. Upon other searching of Watson and Crick, I read that one of the reasons their discovery was made possible was because of the recent advances in model building. Linus Pauling gave them a run for their money in his suggestions of the three-dimensional structure, although his ended up being incorrect. Franklin's photo 51 was crucial in identifying the structure of DNA by showing the X-ray diffraction pattern. "If you are afraid of making a mistake, you are going to fail in this business"
What do you think would have happened if Watson and Crick never met? Do you believe one of them would have discovered the double helix without the other? Also, do you believe it would have been discovered without photo 51?
I too enjoyed the video. I was unaware that Franklin was a piece of the puzzle, let alone a crucial one. I think Watson and Crick were very comfortable within one another. Their success was partially attributed to how easily they bounced ideas back and forth off of each other. They both could have potentially came to the same conclusion separately, although I think Franklin's photo was the essential link to this scientific break through. Eventually, Watson and Crick may have figured out the structure of the double helix without Franklin's image but I think by that time, Linus Pauling, possibly Franklin may have beat them to it.
The video was well-made and offered a valuable perspective of this story. I have heard/read about Watson and Crick and their discovery many times, but each manages to offer a different perspective and new insights. In this case, these new insights were into the personalities of these two men. I do not believe that either of these men would have discovered the double helical structure of DNA without the other. The video convinced me that the dynamic between these two scientists was instrumental in their work and the path that their interests took. If they had never met, perhaps Franklin or Pauling or maybe another would have eventually identified the correct structure. I do not believe Watson and Crick would have arrived at their conclusion so timely without Franklin's photo 51. These two men may have managed without that crucial piece of evidence, but it would have taken significantly more time.
The video was very interesting and I did not know that Franklin had such a contribution to the discovery. I do not think that either of them would have made the discovery on their own as they worked so well together and used one another's ideas to eventually make the discovery. I think that photo 51 was the key piece to making the discovery and I think eventually they would have reached the point of figuring out the structure on their own but who knows how long that may have taken. Linus Pauling may have reached the discovery before them during this race to discover the double helical structure.
I found the video to be very interesting, since it showed a more personal account of this discovery than I have ever encountered in class. I also really enjoyed the interviews with Watson and Crick. Now, if Watson and Crick were to have never met, I do not believe either one of them would have made the discovery alone. Although both men were very intelligent, it seemed like their teamwork was crucial to making this discovery. Watson and Crick worked well with each other and were able to contribute important elements to their research that allowed it to continually advance. I think that both men had the potential to work out the structure by themselves, but not before Linus Pauling or Franklin. Lastly, I do not think Watson and Crick would have arrived to this conclusion first without photo 51. This was a key element to their discovery, and it advanced their research significantly.
I found video so informative and educative since I had no idea of the discovery of DNA by Franklin and the origin of the double-helix DNA by Watson and Crick which i have never questioned about. I loved how Watson and Crick worked as a team, shared ideas and finally come to a conclusion and became the first scientist to formulate the accurate structure of the DNA. If they had not met still either of them could have discovered the double helix structure since they had the same interests but it could have taken a longer period. Franklin's photo 51 was very vital since it gave the hint of the structure of DNA.
It seemed prudent that we watched this video during the weeks that Nobel Prizes are being awarded. I believe that it would have been difficult for Watson and Crick to draw the conclusion that they did if they did not have the data from all the different sources. Rosalind Franklins data was just important as everyone else's. It provided the clues needed to elucidate the structure of DNA. If Watson and Crick never met, or if they never worked together, its possible that the discovery they made would have still happened. Either one or the other may have made the discovery or someone else would have. The important part was making sure that all the pieces of data were collected. My personal opinion is that they simply stood on the shoulder of greater men and women. They are credited for the discovery, but only because the pieces of the puzzle were given to them.
The video enlightened me more on the work of Watson and Crick and the contributions other scientists made for the double helix structure of DNA to be discovered. I believe Watson and Crick were able to make this discovery because of their team work and Franklin's photo 51. They could have discovered it individually but that would have taken a longer time and they might not have got access to Franklin's photo 51 individually. Franklin or another scientist could have even made the discovery first if they had worked separately. To conclude, i believe the team work and Franklin's photo 51 accelerated their research to discover the double helix structure of the DNA before other scientists did.
Personally, I enjoyed hearing about several of the other proposed models of DNA that at the time seemed so logicaly sound (and that working with DNA is like snot). For example their model with the bases on the outside so they would not be hidden. I thought Franklin's response to their incorrect model by making an announcement of the death of DNA as a helix was amusing, but there was a point to be made that mistakes help find the right answers. Well, if Watson and Crick never met who's to say what would have happened? I believe the structure of DNA would be discovered through trial and error, and the process would have potentially taken several more years. I see a similiar outcome if Watson never saw photo 51, as that seemed to lead to the idea that DNA is a double helix. Looking back, I have to give these scientists respect for working with equipment seeming so primitive compared to today's, and still being able to make groundbreaking discoveries.
If Watson and Crick had never met perhaps they would not have made this discovery. Perhaps individually one of them would have. Or perhaps someone would have beaten them to it. We simply do not have the data to know. Without photo 51, at the time of this discovery, it would have been more difficult for Watson and Crick to determine the structure of DNA. However, with or without the photo and/or Watson and/or Crick, it would be increasingly likely that as technology and our understanding of DNA increases, that someone eventually would have discovered that DNA is a double helix.
I think the two of them bouncing ideas off of each other was critical to their discovery of DNA's double helix shape. Without each other it's hard to say whether either one of them on their own would have discovered it. It is possible that another scientist of their time many have beat them to the discovery if they had not been working together.
Photo 51 was an important piece of information that allowed Watson and Crick to finish their model and understanding of DNA's shape. In time, they may have made the discovery on their own, but like the scenario of Watson and Crick not working together it is hard to say what would or would not have happened.
I thought the video overall was interesting to watch. It gave a more indepth background on the history of DNA I didn't know. It was also surprising to see how many people were working towards the same major discovery at the same time in history.
I really liked this video learning about the double helix and how it came to be discovered. It tells a great story of James Watson and Francis Crick, and I love that they had an interview with James Watson. Upon other searching of Watson and Crick, I read that one of the reasons their discovery was made possible was because of the recent advances in model building. Linus Pauling gave them a run for their money in his suggestions of the three-dimensional structure, although his ended up being incorrect. Franklin's photo 51 was crucial in identifying the structure of DNA by showing the X-ray diffraction pattern.
ReplyDelete"If you are afraid of making a mistake, you are going to fail in this business"
What do you think would have happened if Watson and Crick never met? Do you believe one of them would have discovered the double helix without the other? Also, do you believe it would have been discovered without photo 51?
I too enjoyed the video. I was unaware that Franklin was a piece of the puzzle, let alone a crucial one. I think Watson and Crick were very comfortable within one another. Their success was partially attributed to how easily they bounced ideas back and forth off of each other. They both could have potentially came to the same conclusion separately, although I think Franklin's photo was the essential link to this scientific break through. Eventually, Watson and Crick may have figured out the structure of the double helix without Franklin's image but I think by that time, Linus Pauling, possibly Franklin may have beat them to it.
ReplyDeleteThe video was well-made and offered a valuable perspective of this story. I have heard/read about Watson and Crick and their discovery many times, but each manages to offer a different perspective and new insights. In this case, these new insights were into the personalities of these two men. I do not believe that either of these men would have discovered the double helical structure of DNA without the other. The video convinced me that the dynamic between these two scientists was instrumental in their work and the path that their interests took. If they had never met, perhaps Franklin or Pauling or maybe another would have eventually identified the correct structure. I do not believe Watson and Crick would have arrived at their conclusion so timely without Franklin's photo 51. These two men may have managed without that crucial piece of evidence, but it would have taken significantly more time.
ReplyDeleteThe video was very interesting and I did not know that Franklin had such a contribution to the discovery. I do not think that either of them would have made the discovery on their own as they worked so well together and used one another's ideas to eventually make the discovery. I think that photo 51 was the key piece to making the discovery and I think eventually they would have reached the point of figuring out the structure on their own but who knows how long that may have taken. Linus Pauling may have reached the discovery before them during this race to discover the double helical structure.
ReplyDeleteI found the video to be very interesting, since it showed a more personal account of this discovery than I have ever encountered in class. I also really enjoyed the interviews with Watson and Crick. Now, if Watson and Crick were to have never met, I do not believe either one of them would have made the discovery alone. Although both men were very intelligent, it seemed like their teamwork was crucial to making this discovery. Watson and Crick worked well with each other and were able to contribute important elements to their research that allowed it to continually advance. I think that both men had the potential to work out the structure by themselves, but not before Linus Pauling or Franklin. Lastly, I do not think Watson and Crick would have arrived to this conclusion first without photo 51. This was a key element to their discovery, and it advanced their research significantly.
ReplyDeleteI found video so informative and educative since I had no idea of the discovery of DNA by Franklin and the origin of the double-helix DNA by Watson and Crick which i have never questioned about.
ReplyDeleteI loved how Watson and Crick worked as a team, shared ideas and finally come to a conclusion and became the first scientist to formulate the accurate structure of the DNA.
If they had not met still either of them could have discovered the double helix structure since they had the same interests but it could have taken a longer period.
Franklin's photo 51 was very vital since it gave the hint of the structure of DNA.
It seemed prudent that we watched this video during the weeks that Nobel Prizes are being awarded. I believe that it would have been difficult for Watson and Crick to draw the conclusion that they did if they did not have the data from all the different sources. Rosalind Franklins data was just important as everyone else's. It provided the clues needed to elucidate the structure of DNA. If Watson and Crick never met, or if they never worked together, its possible that the discovery they made would have still happened. Either one or the other may have made the discovery or someone else would have. The important part was making sure that all the pieces of data were collected. My personal opinion is that they simply stood on the shoulder of greater men and women. They are credited for the discovery, but only because the pieces of the puzzle were given to them.
ReplyDeleteThe video enlightened me more on the work of Watson and Crick and the contributions other scientists made for the double helix structure of DNA to be discovered. I believe Watson and Crick were able to make this discovery because of their team work and Franklin's photo 51. They could have discovered it individually but that would have taken a longer time and they might not have got access to Franklin's photo 51 individually. Franklin or another scientist could have even made the discovery first if they had worked separately.
ReplyDeleteTo conclude, i believe the team work and Franklin's photo 51 accelerated their research to discover the double helix structure of the DNA before other scientists did.
Personally, I enjoyed hearing about several of the other proposed models of DNA that at the time seemed so logicaly sound (and that working with DNA is like snot). For example their model with the bases on the outside so they would not be hidden. I thought Franklin's response to their incorrect model by making an announcement of the death of DNA as a helix was amusing, but there was a point to be made that mistakes help find the right answers. Well, if Watson and Crick never met who's to say what would have happened? I believe the structure of DNA would be discovered through trial and error, and the process would have potentially taken several more years. I see a similiar outcome if Watson never saw photo 51, as that seemed to lead to the idea that DNA is a double helix. Looking back, I have to give these scientists respect for working with equipment seeming so primitive compared to today's, and still being able to make groundbreaking discoveries.
ReplyDeleteIf Watson and Crick had never met perhaps they would not have made this discovery. Perhaps individually one of them would have. Or perhaps someone would have beaten them to it. We simply do not have the data to know. Without photo 51, at the time of this discovery, it would have been more difficult for Watson and Crick to determine the structure of DNA. However, with or without the photo and/or Watson and/or Crick, it would be increasingly likely that as technology and our understanding of DNA increases, that someone eventually would have discovered that DNA is a double helix.
ReplyDeleteI think the two of them bouncing ideas off of each other was critical to their discovery of DNA's double helix shape. Without each other it's hard to say whether either one of them on their own would have discovered it. It is possible that another scientist of their time many have beat them to the discovery if they had not been working together.
ReplyDeletePhoto 51 was an important piece of information that allowed Watson and Crick to finish their model and understanding of DNA's shape. In time, they may have made the discovery on their own, but like the scenario of Watson and Crick not working together it is hard to say what would or would not have happened.
I thought the video overall was interesting to watch. It gave a more indepth background on the history of DNA I didn't know. It was also surprising to see how many people were working towards the same major discovery at the same time in history.
Excellent discussion, folks!!!! I'm pleased that you all appreciated the historical significance of the various person-to-person interactions.
ReplyDelete